Rant...sort of....

[Big Rig]

OK, so we all know the weather in the NE has been crap for the last few months. I have only been able to get one day of riding in. So Sunday we had sunny dry conditions, albeit cold (42 well??/). So I send out an invite to a few guys I ride with, in hopes that we could get a couple hours riding in. I am the only Valk rider the other three that came out ride HD's....not saying it is a bike thing...but when you know it is colder and you plan to ride, would you not come prepared for the weather? We were out for 30 minutes when we stopped at a TL and all three said they were going home bc they were cold...huh??? Am I asking too much? So it got me to thinking...never a good thing and people tell me not to e-mail or type when angry  . But I ask you...if you got an invite to ride in 40 degree weather, would you not expect to be cold? All have windshields and chaps...

So I rode back with them and went out for another hour on my own...so when I got home my wife said you are home early, I said the others have been home for an hour...so no boat show for me yesterday...I guess i was just sort of dissapointed.

Do HD riders get colder faster because they only have two cylinders?

Or are they just wusses???

Anyway, I got to ride yesterday and I am happy about that...

[Serk]

Just my personal observation, but I've noticed that the ratio of Harleys to others seems to go WAY down the nastier the weather is...

The more prefect the weather, the ratio of Harleys goes up... As the weather gets nastier and nastier, I start seeing more and more other bikes in proportion to the number of Harleys I see on the roads...

Guess the difference is between those who ride to ride, and those who ride to be seen?

(Standard disclaimers apply, not all Harley Owners are Harley Owners, some ARE Harley Riders, blah blah bleh etc. etc. etc...)

[Varmintmist]

The ratio goes way up with the temps, but there are some serious HD hardcore guys out here that ride when jumping on the valk doesn't even sound partly fun. I saw a Wing out the other day to.

[Dogg]

Ill ride as long as the roads arent wet or icy. My firends all ride HD's and are just like me. we been out at 18F and ridden 60 or so miles to a big dealer in delaware just for the burgers. then ride home. the long way. if the suns out, its riding time. if its cloudy with no chance of rain, its ridin time. I think that most people who own bikes dont like the temps below 50 or so but, that because a motorcycle is actually a luxury.
 one guy here has a 2000 indian chief roadmaster. only transpotation he owns. rides all the time, rain, snow, he dont care. as long as he is on his idian, he is happy. and he has 200k on that bike with now major engine work. strong S&S. so, there are a few.

[SANDMAN5]

I agree that some harley riders will ride when I think it's too cold...
but on the other hand.... MOST of the people I know that won't
ride when it gets below 50 or so ride....I mean OWN a certain
brand of air-cooled v-twin. One harley boy I used to work with
said he parks his from Labor Day till Memorial Day every winter.
I asked him what he did if it hit 75* in November..he said "I'll
push it out in the driveway and wax it and push it back in". True story!!

[f6john]

     I think it still boils down to the rider, not the bike they own. But just due to the sheer volume of Harley vs other bikes you will likely find more who don't care for the cooler weather. Just 10 years ago I left out for Bike week in 20 degree weather ( riding, not trailering ) and continued to do so for several more years but I must admit that I am now a little more particular about the temps.  But if I agree to go riding with you I will prepare for the ride and not wimp out.

[SANDMAN5]

   I think it still boils down to the rider, not the bike they own. But just due to the sheer volume of Harley vs other bikes you will likely find more who don't care for the cooler weather. Just 10 years ago I left out for Bike week in 20 degree weather ( riding, not trailering  ) and continued to do so for several more years but I must admit that I am now a little more particular about the temps.  But if I agree to go riding with you I will prepare for the ride and not wimp out.

Yeah, that IS true. Thankfully, the number of "bikers" that bought harleys just because
they thought they looked cool on one has diminished considerably. Percentage-wise the
people with harleys that actually RIDE has gone up..at least around here. Still a few that
have the attitude, can't really ride, and generally make ALL riders look bad with their words
and actions in public.

[Titan]

This is not intended to take up for Harley riders or owners but I absolutely hate to ride when it's cold. Hate it. Won't do it. I'm 67 YOA and didn't like it when I was in my 20s either. To me, it's not fun to ride in the cold. It's aggravating and not enjoyable at all. Don't mind getting wet. Won't head out when it's already raining but don't much care if I run into it on the ride. The worst part of getting wet is having to clean it up afterwards.

Over the last few years I've actually wondered if Harleys had heaters because I've seen guys riding in some serious cold without helmets, face shields, goggles, or gloves. Just cooling it down the road with icy wind directly in the face!

So, I guess i'm the wussy around here and I'm gonna just read about you guys who don't care about the weather. I'll echo what somebody said earlier... there's so many Harleys out there that it would be hard to judge any statistics on how many of them park em in the winter.

My Valk is in the garage until it warms up! 

[six2go #152]

Titan: My thoughts exactly! My car has a heater, therefore I drive,not ride when it's cold.

[bstahl5012]

I don't care what folk ride. I just wish there were more folks to ride with this time of year. If there's no snow or ice on the road the Trike is my daily commuter, has been for 30 years.

[scoot]

I raher enjoy the cooler weather. If it weren't snowy and ice I would ride into the 20 degrees. That's what electric clothing is for.
 I think the rant was more about people saying "oh yea, I'll meet ya for a ride", and then showing up in shorts and flip flops and complaining about it being too cold. Remeber the cub scout moto "always be prepared". Dress for the ride, if its cold wear a coat and chaps, if it looks like rain pack you rain gear.

[KW]

I’m NOT representing myself as an expert in riding in the cold, but up here on the North Coast you HAVE to expect it. For me personally, 40 degrees is my cut off for any type of comfort. I don’t own and won’t wear clothing that has to be plugged in, so it’s whatever layers I can pile on. I’ll “leave’ on a  ride if it’s in the 30’s, but only if it’s going to get up to the mid-40’s. Seriously, anything below 40 is just plain COLD! I think every rider up here though, commonly rides in it, both the spring and the fall (and sometimes in June - LOL!) “It is what it is.”

Harley riders wimps? Nah. . . . Some of the toughest dudes I’ve ever known ride those POS, sans windscreen and nothing on but leathers. I would break the ‘Harley” group into “new” riders with too much money and little common sense and old school riders. You see the same “classification” with Wings and Valks too. I've known some tough old Wing riders who would (and do) ride circles around most of todays riders 

I don’t like the cold. . . but if I started a ride with you brother, I sure as heck would finish it. You need some new riding partners.

[Oss]

I am one of those nuts who rides when its way cold, cant find any Valk riders to go with me dont use any electrics unless on the Valk and its gloves only then, maybe the peelnstick stuff in the boot


Almost every time I am out I see a couple of older Harley riders and we wave to each other and the further north I go the More riders I see     At Marcus Dairy sundays in Connecticut there are always at least 20 bikes of ALL kinds, but mostly HD and sport bikes

Ice is a big problem up here in the good roads  I havent been out this year on the Valk

I think Ive been have confusing the harley guys though as I have been on the beemer the last few times I have been out as I am addicted to the heated grips and wind protection of the 1150rtp

[f6john]

I don't care what folk ride. I just wish there were more folks to ride with this time of year. If there's no snow or ice on the road the Trike is my daily commuter, has been for 30 years.

    Let's see some pics of that trike. It looks interesting

[fudgie]

I disagree bob, the person has the attitude not the bike he is on. Anyone on a bike can make us all 'look' bad. Even those on Valks. Even I have done stereotypical stuff.

[RoadKill]

I rode more miles in the cold and snow before I got my Valk. Some times I did not have any other option and some times my younger body or my EGO did not mind as much. That was on Honda,Suzuki,Yamaha,Kawasaki,and even Harleys. The Valk and I still get out in ALL weather but as time changes,so do riders. I still feel I am a RIDER not just an OWNER...But I make my choices differently now.

[fudgie]

My cold weather rides have always been the worse rides of my life.

Rode 1st of April to TN to get a trailer from joe. Got a 1 1/2 hrs from home and had to stop for the night. Sleet froze me to death.

Rode to a PGR mission in 35 deg rain. soaked all day 2 hrs from home.

Rode to MO last march for the wrench party. 32 deg the whole way and 8 hrs of rain on the way home.

My PMS has gone away in the winter. Always to much salt. Rode last Feb and bike had a fluffy salt coating till April. I can wait. Always make the ride more enjoyable.

[Titan]

Yeah fudgie, I actually remember the worst ride I ever had in the cold too. It was in 1973 and I rode with two other guys down to Daytona Beach from the middle of SC in December. Coming back the next day, we left late in the afternoon and it got very cold that night and rained on us most of the way back to SC. I was out front of the other two and got caught a bit over the speed limit in GA and pulled over. Two deputies got out of the car and scolded me. I asked if either of them could ride a motorcycle and one said he could. I implored him to ride the bike and for them to put me in that nice warm car, take me to a nice warm jail and let me bail out in the morning. They just laughed and told me to slow down and enjoy the rest of my ride.

I was so miserable that I would have happily done just what I asked for!

Maybe that's why I don't like to ride in the cold now.

[art]

Cold weather is my cup of tea.I would rather ride in the 30s an 40s rather than the 100s.You guys come up to Oregon an we will go for a good long ride

[SANDMAN5]

I disagree bob, the person has the attitude not the bike he is on. Anyone on a bike can make us all 'look' bad. Even those on Valks. Even I have done stereotypical stuff.

Yeah, but, MOST of them ride THAT brand of motersickle. Not all of them by any
means.

[Brovietnam]

The coldest I have ever ridder was -20.  That was right after I got back from Vietnam and I hadn't regained my sences, and that was a Triumph 650.   To that end, there is still some question.  If I can get to the road and there isn't any snow or rain going on when I leave, I will now ride into the low 20's.  The old body doesn't react as quick and I realize it.  I also now will use a electric vest and gloves on occasion.  This past month I haven't been able to get to the streets because of the snow and cold weather here in Arvada, CO.  Hmmmmm, I haven't ever owned a Harley.  

[Popeye]

I don't enjoy riding in the cold, even with electrics.  Agree with Fudgie, too much salt on the roads, I wait til we have a good spring rain before I take my bike out.

I stopped in a Wally World about a month ago, on the way to a Rolling Thunder board meeting.  Had on a POW/MIA shirt and my leather jacket.  The greeter is an old school biker and we talk each time I stop at this store.  It was cold and there was snow on the ground.  He asked where my bike was, told him about my accident and that I was looking for a new one. I asked where his was but already knew the answer.  He pointed to it in the parking lot.  He has the shorty windshield on his Ultra trike. I asked if he had electrics, his reply was electrics are for wussies, it's all a state of mind. He told me that he has been riding year round since he came back from Nam.

I jumped in my warm truck and went to my meeting. I informed the board members that since we all came to the meeting in our trucks, we were a bunch of wussies, then explained why.

More power to you if you ride in the cold, it's not for me.  Agree with Fudgie on the fact that some of my worst rides were in the cold/rain.

The guy I boughy my Harley from rides on some pretty fricking cold days. He also has a heated garage to wash the bike when he comes back.

[Misfit]

42 degrees is short sleeve weather, no matter what brand you ride.

[R J]

I've been caught in all kinds of weather, some cold, some so hot I about melted, but i always survived.

However now, I can't ride in anything below 35.    A nerve of some sort that controls my left hand goes squirrelly when the hand is cold.   It will not function correctly.   Dr. says it is in my neck.

It has now included my shoulder.    Dr says he can operate, but he isn't sure which nerve to work on.   Told him when he found out, to let me know and then we would schedule surgery.    So, till then, if it drops below 40, I park MGM & or the Trike.   Hello Dodge Ram, with A/C & a terrific heater, defroster.

[Willow]

There are all kinds of riders and varied reasons for riding.  Some ride for image, some are PMT riders, some are recreational only riders.  Some ride for therapy; some ride because that's just what they do.

I'm pleased there are motorcycle owners who greatly limit their riding time.  It provides a source of low mileage, reasonably priced, used motorcycles for those of us who ride because we really want to ride.

Don't start thinking all Valkyrie riders are the same or all Harley riders are the same or all BMW riders are the same.  It's just not so.  Well, maybe all BMW riders.      

[SANDMAN5]

Well, maybe all BMW riders.

Another true story!!! We like to make fun of some harley boys 'cause they
won't wave at Hondas, Yamaha's etc. Couple of years ago BMW had their
national rally here in Johnson City.....around 10,000 motersickles. Several
times my wife and I would get behind a group of them riding somewhere.
I hadn't noticed, but my wife asked me..."Why don't they wave at each other?"
I started paying attention. When two groups would pass each other they
wouldn't wave!! No law says you have to, but really, wouldn't you think
at least SOMEBODY would wave? People from all over riding (mostly) the
same brand of bike and we saw maybe 3 or 4 waves the entire weekend!!!